Clever Carnivore’s Breakthrough in Cultivated Pork Production
Chicago-based food tech startup Clever Carnivore is on track to launch its cultivated pork products in the US market by summer 2026. The company has made significant strides in reducing production costs, achieving an industry-leading culture media cost of $0.07 per liter at pilot scale. This breakthrough is crucial as culture media typically accounts for the bulk of cultivated meat production expenses, often costing hundreds of dollars per liter due to expensive components like bovine serum albumin (BSA) and fetal bovine serum (FBS).
Clever Carnivore has managed to slash these costs by optimizing its media formulation, replacing expensive components with carefully chosen alternatives, and producing its own growth factors in-house. The company’s porcine cells can double in under 14 hours in adherent culture, and its proprietary bioprocess design eliminates the need for microcarriers, further reducing costs.
Innovative Production Methods and Regulatory Progress
The startup’s approach includes using second-hand bioreactors for initial experiments and designing cost-effective large-scale stainless steel bioreactors. Clever Carnivore is also developing cell lines that have never been exposed to animal-based inputs, adapting them to grow in custom, low-cost culture media from the outset.
Clever Carnivore is nearing regulatory approval from the US FDA, benefiting from the groundwork laid by pioneers like Upside Foods and Eat Just. The company is preparing a comprehensive dossier for submission, detailing a process that closely mirrors its intended commercial-scale production.
Market Strategy and Future Plans
The company is focusing on processed pork products, such as sausages and hot dogs, which are classified by the WHO as potentially carcinogenic. This strategic decision is driven by scientific, financial, and market considerations. Clever Carnivore aims to offer high-quality, reasonably priced products that consumers can trust, potentially partnering with established meat and restaurant brands to facilitate market entry.
Taste tests have been promising, with consumers and chefs praising the company’s cultivated bratwursts, breakfast sausages, hot dogs, and meatballs. The products offer several advantages over conventional meat, including the absence of steroids, antibiotics, and GMOs, as well as a more secure supply chain.
Financial Landscape and Fundraising
Clever Carnivore has secured $9.1 million in funding to date and is now raising an additional $7 million as an extension to its 2023 seed round. The company has had to adjust its fundraising plans due to the current challenging investment landscape for cultivated meat, where funding has dropped significantly since its peak in 2021.
The startup is optimistic about its prospects, having received positive feedback from both investors and consumers. With its innovative production methods, strategic market positioning, and commitment to quality, Clever Carnivore is poised to make a significant impact in the cultivated meat industry.
